Dànìtʼē?  

Dànìtʼē? means ‘How are you?’ in the Tagish language. Thank you for signing up to receive newsletter updates. This newsletter is meant to provide subscribers with project updates, to announce milestones when achieved, and to maintain a line of communication with neighbours. 

Your comments and questions are welcome at any time. Please reach out to CYFN with any queries or to share your thoughts. Our contact information is indicated at the bottom of this email. 

Please see below for our May 2023 newsletter: 

 Project Status Update 

The Council of Yukon First Nations is pleased to officially announce the start of construction this month! The contract has been awarded to Ketza and Walker Home Construction, a joint venture that provided the lowest bid price and scored highest through the overall bid evaluation process. Ketza is a long-standing Yukon Company with many years working with Yukon First Nations. Walker Home Construction owned by Champagne and Aishihik First Nations citizen Les Walker.

All project funds have been secured and municipal permits have been obtained.
It is anticipated that construction will begin on-site mid-month.

 Project Timeline 

 Project Funding Sources  

All capital funding has been secured to support construction start. This project is funded by a wide range of funding sources – see below for the list of project funding partners:  

 General Contractor – Contract Award 

The tender for the project closed in March and incorporated Yukon First Nations procurement principles. The Council of Yukon First Nations is grateful to all contractors who submitted a bid package for consideration, and to all in the business community that expressed interest in this project. 

 Site Blessing and Groundbreaking Ceremony – May 17, 2023  

A site blessing and groundbreaking ceremony will take place on May 17^th at 10 Eldorado Drive in Whistlebend for the Family Preservation Wellness Centre. The ceremony marks the start of the construction phase for the project which is slated for completion in fall 2024. All are invited to attend. 

Click here: Letter to neighbours

 Land Blessing Ceremony 

Ceremony and tradition have been integral to our approach thus far and will continue to be incorporated into everything we do moving forward. In keeping with that practice—a sacred fire burned at the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre from 8am on April 18^th until 4pm on April 19^th, 2023. The purpose of the sacred fire was to cleanse and protect the site of the new Family Preservation Wellness Centre to ensure those accessing the Centre and its services would be protected and feel safe and secure. This is the first indigenous run Centre of this kind, and we want to ensure we are doing things in a good way according to traditional teachings of the elders.

Ashes from the sacred fire were collected and sifted to make into Ash bags that will be distributed to all in attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony.

The elders say these bags protect those who witnessed the ceremony and ensure that none of the ceremonial work done on site is taken away with attendees.

Check out the project website and sign up for the project update list!

www.cyfn.ca/wellnesscentre

For more information please contact:

Shandell McCarthy
Family Preservation Wellness Centre Director
876-393-9200 ext 9277
Shandell.McCarthy@cyfn.net